<

>

Iola-Scandinavia's Carter Kurki avoids the tag of Weyauwega-Fremont's Quentin Borremans May 18 during a Central Wisconsin 8 Conference baseball game at Taylor Field in Iola. Kurki had two hits in the Thunderbirds' 1-0 win over the Indians. Greg Seubert Photo

Error leads to only run in eight innings

By Greg Seubert

Iola-Scandinavia’s baseball team took advantage of a two-out throwing error to hand Weyauwega-Fremont a 1-0 loss May 18.

The teams headed into extra innings tied at 0-0. Connor Kurki reached for Iola-Scandinavia in the bottom of the eighth and eventually scored the game’s only run on the error.

Both teams had six hits. Ryley Hofferber had three for Weyauwega-Fremont, while Kurki had two for the Thunderbirds.
Bryce Huettner got the win after relieving Connor Kurki, who struck out seven batters. Logan Bosquez took the loss for the Indians.

Both teams will open WIAA state tournament play Thursday, May 5, by hosting a Division 3 regional. The No. 4 T-Birds will host No. 5 Amherst, while the third-seeded Indians will host No. 6 Manawa.

Yakich

Deputies say one inmate’s fart led to another inmate spitting on him.

Christopher W. Yakich, 40, Waupaca, is charged with felony assault by a prisoner expelling bodily fluids.

On Feb. 6, a Waupaca County corrections officer reported Yakich was in the face of another inmate, yelling at him.

The other inmate was Mark Knaus, a 56-year-old former Weyauwega man who was subsequently transferred to Dodge Correctional to serve a three-year prison term for a ninth OWI.

The officer called Yakich out of the pod to question him.

“I asked Yakich what the problem was and he informed me that Knaus farted really badly in front of everyone,” the deputy reported.

The deputy then informed Yakich that he would be placed in a disciplinary cell.

The deputy also spoke with Knaus and another inmate, who said Yakich spit on Knaus after the flatulence, then again after being ordered to move to another cell.

In January 2015, Yakich was charged with two counts of felony intimidation of a witness, threatening harm using a computer message, threatening injury to a business and misdemeanor bail jumping.

He was accused of sending threatening text messages to his former employer. The 2015 case remains open.

Yakich faces up to three years in prison if convicted of felony assault by expelling bodily fluid.

Waupaca County sheriff’s report May 22

• May 22 – Caller reported two to three people he believes are breaking into vehicles in the 600 block of Bruce Street, New London.

• May 21 – Caller in the E5300 block of U.S. Highway 10, Weyauwega, reported that her 6-foot-2,  300-pound son is out of control and acting violent.

• May 21 – Caller reported a person wearing black clothing with a flashlight around 3 a.m. in the 1400 block of Royalton Street, Waupaca.

• May 21 – Caller reported a Stihl leaf blower was stolen in the 400 block of Mill Street, Waupaca.

• May 21 – Caller has a customer at the Chain One Stop in the N2400 block of County Trunk QQ with a fake $20 bill.

• May 21 – Caller reported a dark silver, 1998-ish Chevy Malibu may be driving through the county while carrying drugs between 10 and 11 p.m.

• May 21 – Caller by an entrance to the Ice Age Trail reported seeing a man in green and brown camouflage, in a sniper style outfit. Caller looked at the individual who saw him and then hid behind a tree.

• May 21 – Caller reported juveniles jumping the fence by the County Shop on East Fulton Street in Waupaca.

• May 21 – Caller in the 800 block of West Beacon Avenue, New London, reported his friend may have stolen some of his medication. He also left his front door open and the same friend is sleeping in the basement.

• May 20 – Caller in the 200 block of North Main Street, Waupaca, reported kids outside yelling and being loud.

• May 20 – Caller at the Mobil gas station in the E330 block of Royalton Street, Waupaca, reported a light blue station wagon in the parking lot for 20 minutes with a male in the car and a female in the bathroom. They tried to buy food, but the gas station does not take food stamps and the female went to the bathroom.

• May 20 – Caller in the N4200 block of County Trunk Q, Waupaca, reported a soft gun case in the bushes between the credit union and the dentist office.

• May 20 – Caller at the Marion Mobil in the 700 block of Northeast Seventh Street, Marion, reported a $10 gas drive off. The suspect has been in the store three times the past few days and has refused to pay when asked.

• May 20 – Caller in the E2900 block of Nelson Road, Waupaca, reported his mailbox was smashed the previous night.

• May 20 – Caller at Fleet Farm in the 2000 block of Farm Drive, Waupaca, reported a male was apprehended for theft at the store and was being resistant.

• May 20 – Caller in the E7500 block of County Trunk N, Manawa, reported a friend cashed a check on their account and they are now out $680.

• May 20 – Caller at the Kwik Trip located in the 100 block of County Trunk QQ would like to speak to an officer about a woman who has been in the store for the past two hours.

• May 20 – Caller in the N1900 block of County Trunk E, Waupaca, reported she has been getting harassing text messages from an unknown phone number.

• May 20 – Caller at New London Middle School stated a student received a text message from another student containing a picture of the student with a bunch of pills and the caption “700 mg right now.” Caller would like a welfare check done.

• May 20 – Caller reported a male with a white baseball hat and a backpack was just in his boat in the E5800 block of South Shore Drive, Weyauwega.

• May 19 – Caller at Davita Dialysis Center in the 900 block of Furman Drive, Waupaca, reported a man who is angry because he didn’t want to be on dialysis and left on his motorized scooter. The caller was concerned because he almost tipped his scooter over as he was leaving.

• May 19 – Caller in the 30 block of East 14th Street, Clintonville, reported wood missing from some property. Caller saw an old navy blue truck at the scene.

• May 19 – Caller reported his hunting cabin in the town of Harrison has been broken into using a pry bar on the door. He reported all alcohol is missing and the cabin was ransacked.

• May 19 – Caller in the E9600 block of Blueberry Road, Bear Creek, reported her friend hasn’t returned home since last night.

• May 19 – Caller in the N4700 block of Otto Road, New London, reported his property was surveyed and his neighbor tore out the flags on the wooden stakes. He would like them talked to about trespassing.

• May 19 – Caller reported a man laying on the side of the road with a bag near Graetz and Stony Hill Road in the town of Larrabee.

• May 19 – Caller at the Waupaca Mobil Travel Center in the 1200 block of West Fulton Street, Waupaca, reported a man driving around the parking lot of the truck stop, who came inside and was stalking a waitress.

• May 19 – Caller in the 200 block of Tustin Road, Fremont, reported bow fisherman within 660 feet of a park near his property. The boat was described as very bright with all its lights.

• May 19 – Caller reported they received a message about a red Chevy Impala in their driveway, located in the E2700 block of Crystal Road, Waupaca.

• May 19 – Caller reported a male jumped out of a four-door car with a spotlight, and went into the Salvation Army building in the 500 block of Division Street, New London.

• May 18 – Caller reported three dogs, he thinks live in the E2200 block of Smokey Valley Road, Scandinavia, chased him on his bike ride last night.

• May 18 – Caller reported a vehicle was in her driveway in the N1900 block of West Road, Waupaca. Caller stated the vehicle left and has since returned. The driver said he was from AT&T and checking the tower nearby. She called AT&T and they said the white Kia Soul the man was driving did not belong to them.

• May 18 – Caller in the 500 block of Wolf River Drive, Fremont, states he rented a cabin out to two males who are drunk. He wants them to leave and they will not.

• May 18 – Caller in the N2500 block of Orchard Way, Waupaca, stated he allowed an individual to stay in his house, and he found needles in that person’s room. He would like an officer to check for anything else.

• May 18 – Caller in the N1800 block of County Trunk K, Waupaca, reported a large black bear in their backyard.

• May 18 – Caller at Northport Convenience Store in the E8400 block of State Highway 54, reported a gas drive off for $25.26 by a blue four-door car.

• May 17 – Caller reported a man sitting in the middle of the road with a dog running around in a field in the W11800 block of Angle Road, Marion. The man got up quickly and tried to open her car door while yelling.

• May 17 – Caller in the 200 block of Granite Street, Waupaca, reported someone broke into his business, Quality Auto Body, and stole a box of change.

• May 17 – Caller reported he had a contract with owners of a store in the E2200 block of Crystal Road, Waupaca. The agreement said the owners would sell his stuff. He went by the store recently and the store is now empty.

• May 17 – Caller in the E7900 block of Stage Road, New London, reported that his ex girlfriend stole about $300 worth of tools.

• May 17 – Caller reported receiving a threatening letter in the mail at his residence in the E6000 block of South Shore Drive, Weyauwega.

• May 17 – Caler in the N5000 block of County Trunk E, Ordensburg, reported her checkbook has been stolen and fraudulent checks were written from her account.

• May 17 – Caller in the N1800 block of Shambeau Terrace, Waupaca, reported a male dressed in all black behind their property.

• May 15 – Caller in the N8900 block of Pagel Road, Iola, reported he was walking on Lake Road, when a person he knew drove past him and words were exchanged. The person got out of their vehicle and more words were exchanged. The caller reported that person then spit on them.

Two burned when car goes ablaze
Two people suffered burns when the car they were in started on fire on May 15.

Jeremyah Zander, 20, Manawa, was driving a 2002 Chevy Cavalier westbound on U.S. Highway 10 near Weyauwega.

He and passenger Jeffery Saari, 21, Waupaca, noticed flames from under the backseat.

Zander pulled the car over and it became fully involved and was a total loss.

Both were not transported for their burns.

Branch causes crash
A branch caused one motorist injury during a May 5 crash.

The crash happened at 5:32 p.m. on County Trunk K in the town of St. Lawrence.

Ray Cady, 60, Ogdensburg, was driving a 1990 GMC Sierra northbound on County K.

Christopher Rausch, 20, Ogdensburg, was following Cady, driving a 1981 Honda motorcycle.

Cady had an unsecured load of brush in the back of the truck. A branch fell out and Rausch was unable to avoid it. He crashed.

Rausch was wearing a helmet and was transported to Riverside Medical Center for suspected minor injuries.

Cady was cited for operating a vehicle while failing to prevent leaking load.

Rausch was cited for operate a motor vehicle without insurance.

One hurt trying to pass
One person was injured trying to pass a front end loader on May 15.

The accident happened on State Highway 96 by Tews Road in the town of Caledonia.

Matthew Talo, 51, Greenville, was driving a 2010 Chevy Silverado westbound State 96, while a front end loader was driving in front of him.

Talo tired to pass the loader, but said the loader put on a turn signal and he thought it was going to turn into a nearby driveway.

Talo swerved into the ditch to avoid a collision and struck an address sign and some bicycles at the end of the driveway. He came to a rest in a field on the south side of the road.

Talo was transported by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Hospital for suspected minor injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt.

Rosanne Backes, 87, of Wausau, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 21, 2017 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.

Roseanne was born on December 4, 1929 in Weyauwega, Wisconsin, to the late Frederick and Edna (Schroeder) Bork. During her high school years, she met and found the love of her life, Jerome Backes. They married on June 22, 1951 in Dubuque, Iowa. Rosanne worked for Rib Mountain Hardware for over 30 years. Rosanne had a serving heart. She was member of the altar guild, quilting club, the 55+ club and volunteered at Bethesda. While her kids were young, they spent their weekends traveling to the family farm so they could help grandpa with his laundry, baking him fresh bread and mowing the lawn. Rosanne also loved spending time with her family, whether they were shopping, traveling out west, collecting rocks, sharing a meal or getting together on her claimed holiday, Christmas, where she always went above and beyond; nothing was more important than creating memories that would last a lifetime. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her children, Jim (Susan) Backes, Mary (John) Miller and Ann (Bruce) Iattoni; grandchildren, Jonathon, Megan, John, Steven, Daniel, Katie and Rachel; great-grandchildren, Ellieanna, Madeline, Andrew, Kaelyn, Makenna, Natalie, Olivia, Jack, Emma and Anna and her beloved niece, Sandy Dumbleton. Besides her parents, Rosanne was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome and her brother, Alfred Bork.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 6205 Alderson Street, Weston. Rev. Lance Hoelscher will officiate. Visitation will take place from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church. Entombment will take place at Restlawn Memorial Park.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rosanne’s memory, to Bathesda Thrift Shop, 329 N 1st Ave, Wausau, WI 54401. Online condolences may be given at www.brainardfuneral.com

Paul Vance, age 91, Hortonville, passed away on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center, Appleton.

He was born on April 20, 1926 in Leatha, (Magoffin County), KY, son of the late Columbus and Virgie (Engle) Vance. Paul was the third son of four, with brothers, George, Elmo and Fred (all now deceased). His sister Billie Jo (Glen) Bohlmann, New London. Paul attended Summit Grade School and graduated from Boyd County High School, Cannonsburg, KY in 1944. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps and took basic training at Paris Island, SC. He served in the Pacific Theater, WWII, seeing action on Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Yokosuka in Japan.

After service Paul worked for the C&O Railroad and took leave of absence to help his mother where she had relocated to a farm in New London, WI. In 1954, he met and married Shirley Schilleman in New London. They’ve made their home in Hortonville, the past 63 years. They have three children, Charlie (Debbie), Tennessee; Sara Vance, Menasha; and Andy (Lori) Vance, Appleton; four grandchildren and a sister-in-law, Lois Vance, California. Paul spent the next years as an Operating Engineer on road construction and seasonal Dept. of Natural Resources Warden and sixteen years as a foreman for Deans Foods Company, before retiring in 1993. He enjoyed moose hunting in Canada, bear and deer hunting and trapping in Northern, WI. He was still bear hunting in Hayward at 90! He hunted deer and wild turkey at home. Vance has been a member of the Wisconsin Federation of Wildlife for the past 29 years. He maintained a big garden and strawberry bed and ran a set-line for catfish on the Wolf River. Paul is a descendant of the Abner Vance line and a long-time member of the Vance Family Association and the veteran’s service.

Funeral services for Vance will be held on Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Cline & Hanson Funeral Home, New London. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 4-8 p.m. and also on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be in the Floral Hill Cemetery, New London. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established. The Cline & Hanson Funeral Home in New London is serving the family. www.clinehansonfuneralhome.com

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at FVHO, especially Jennifer Giebel and the 7th floor staff at ThedaCare, Appleton and Dr. Fors, Urologist.

Education, managing archery harvest

The ad hoc committee established to determine if the city of Waupaca needs to address the size of its deer herd now has new tasks.

The tasks include setting up a managed archery harvest program in the city and educating residents about current ordinances related to deer.

Those ordinances include the prohibition of feeding deer in the city and the fact state law allows bow hunting in the city during the regular bow season.

The common council approved the Urban Deer Management Plan in April.

Earlier this month, Waupaca’s Deer Management Ad Hoc Committee reconvened to discuss its next steps.

Much of the committee’s discussion centered on what needs to be done to begin a managed archery harvest season later this summer.

An agriculture permit will be sought from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a managed archery harvest season of Aug. 1 to March 1, in the city.

Someone will need to coordinate the program, and a proficiency test will need to take place to select bow hunters demonstrating accuracy.

The committee discussed offering a stipend to the person who coordinates the program and ideas for funding that stipend.
It plans to post the position and interview interested candidates.

Local businesses are being contacted regarding the proficiency test, as well as the processing of deer.

Rules will need to be determined for the managed archery harvest.

The committee will refine the rules the Multi-Metro Deer Management Group has for its program.

That Marathon County group started its managed archery harvest program in 2006.

Waupaca’s program will limit the managed archery harvest to parcels of 10 acres or more in the city.

The owners of those parcels will need to be contacted to gauge their interest in allowing hunting on their property.

The committee will meet again at 6 p.m. Monday, June 5, in the council chambers, located in the lower level of City Hall.

<

>

Denmark catcher Jackson Wellner tags Waupaca courtesy runner Doug Byers out at the plate May 16 during the Comets' 2-1 North Eastern Valley Conference loss to the Vikings. Greg Seubert Photo

Teams to meet for third time this season

By Greg Seubert

A familiar opponent is on tap for the Waupaca baseball team in the first round of the WIAA state tournament.

The Comets will host Wrightstown at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25, in a Division 2 regional quarterfinal. Waupaca received a No. 2 seed in the Clintonville Sectional, while the Tigers are seeded seventh.

The two teams compete in the North Eastern Conference and last met May 20. Waupaca won that game 9-4.

Waupaca took a 9-0 lead after scoring once in the first inning, three times in the third, four times in the fourth and once in the fifth.

The Tigers answered with a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth, but never got any closer.

Jake Popham and Hayden Neidert had three of the Comets’ 15 hits, while Jake Pankratz and Brenden Canterbury added two each. Canterbury drove in a team-high four runs, while Neidert homered and drove in a pair of runs.

Pankratz also picked up the win on the mound.

The winner of the May 25 tournament game will face No. 3 Little Chute or No. 6 New London Tuesday, May 30.

Other recent games for Waupaca include a 10-0 win May 19 over Little Chute and a 2-1 loss to Denmark May 16.

Weyauwega reorganizing staff

By Angie Landsverk

The process to hire a new city administrator is underway in Weyauwega.

The application deadline is Friday, June 9.

The city is advertising on state and national professional websites, said Russ Van Gompel with Integrated Public Resources, a McMahon Group Company located in Neenah.

The Weyauwega Common Council hired Integrated Public Resources to head the search for the city’s next administrator.

Van Gompel said the firm will screen the applicants and identify a list of five to six semi-finalists.

In addition, it will compile a list of candidates described as “up and coming,” he said.

Integrated Public Resources will meet with the common council to decide which candidates will be invited to interview for the position.

The interview process is scheduled for the week of June 26, Van Gompel said.

A public open house is also being planned for the early evening on Monday, June 26, at City Hall.

“The entire public is invited to come,” he said. “It will be an informal setting.”

The open house will include introductory statements by each of the three to five finalists, Van Gompel said.
The interview process is then expected to begin the following day.

Those interested in the position may visit www.cityofweyauwega-wi.gov/Weyauwega%20Profile.pdf to view the recruitment profile.

The city is searching for a new administrator following the resignation of Patrick Wetzel.

His last day working for the city was May 1.

Wetzel is now the administrator in the town of Lawrence.

Staff promotions
The common council also recently promoted two staff members and increased the wages of another.

Both were related to the council deciding to not hire an interim administrator and to change the title of its top administrative position.

The city will save at least $30,000 by not hiring an interim administrator.

Becky Loehrke was promoted to city clerk with an hourly wage of $22.03.

As deputy city clerk, her hourly wage was $18.03.

Trina Herbst-Gutche was promoted to city treasurer with an hourly wage of $21.08, along with the commitment to send her to the Treasurer’s Institute the next four years. She will receive a 25 cent per hour increase in her wages following the completion of each year of the program.

As deputy city clerk, her hourly wage was $18.08.

The promotions were effective May 1.

In addition, the salary of Don Anzia, the city’s wastewater plant operator, was increased to $57,330. His previous salary was $53,300.

The common council met in closed session late last month to discuss raising Anzia’s wages and promoting Loehrke and Herbst-Gutche.

Prior to the council’s decision to promote Loehrke and Herbst-Gutche, the council passed a charter ordinance to recreate the position of city administrator and reinstate the positions of city clerk and city treasurer.

Before the council took that action, the city had a city administrator/clerk/treasurer, a deputy city clerk and a deputy city treasurer.

The city believes advertising for a city administrator may attract candidates with an economic development background.

State 22/45, Lens Court repairs to cost $23,700

By Bert Lehman

Lens Court and the portion of State Highway 22/45 that the city of Clintonville is responsible for maintaining will be repaired.

Clintonville Public Works Director Kray Brown told the street committee at its May 2 meeting that his understanding was Lens Court had been taken out of the capital improvement plan for 2017.

Brown then read a letter from the manager of the Clintonville First State Bank branch to the street committee. The letter referred to the condition of Lens Court behind the bank.

“Each year the road has become increasingly worse with the pot holes getting bigger each time,” the letter stated.

“The business depends greatly on the road daily for our customers and employees,” the letter went on. “Other businesses and schools also use this road daily. We are finding that there are people who dodge into our parking lot and back out to avoid the bad patch of road.”

The bank has received many complaints from customers about the road, the letter also stated.

Brown told the committee that gravel was added to roadway on Lens Court because the city ran out of cold mix. He added that it would have cost about $1,000 in cold mix material if it would have been added to the roadway.

“And that probably wouldn’t have done what we needed to do,” Brown said.

When discussing Lens Court, as well as other streets in the city of Clintonville, Brown said this past winter was terrible on city streets.

Brown also told the committee that State Highway 22/45 is a major concern of his.

“We need to prevent the road from deteriorating quicker,” Brown said.

He said potholes are developing in the centerline area and patching material is not staying in the holes. He recommended the city use mastic sealant to patch holes.

To cover the city’s portion of Highway 22/45, Brown estimated it would cost $11,100. Part of the area covered would be from Fleet Farm to Walgreens.

“We need to do something before this $11,000 job turns into a fifty, sixty, hundred thousand dollar job,” Brown said.

Brown told the committee the state of Wisconsin will not help fund the repairs.

The committee recommended that the city council approve the city’s public works department to proceed with street repairs to Lens Court at an estimated cost of $12,592, as well as repairs to the city’s portion of State Highway 22/45 at an estimated cost of $11,100. Money to cover the cost would come from the public works department’s budget.

The council approved the recommendation at its May 9 meeting.

<

>

This barn at N5323 County Road D, Maple Creek is a total loss following a gust of strong wind on May 17. Scott Bellile photo

Neighboring homes untouched

By Scott Bellile

High-speed winds tore down a barn north of New London on May 17.

The barn collapsed around 10 p.m. at N5323 County Road D, Maple Creek, the property of Lorraine Handschke.

While cleaning up his mother’s property with family members Friday, May 19, Richard Handschke said the barn and two other sheds on the property were total losses. The winds also pulled wires off the barn and the house and knocked out electricity.

The Outagamie County Emergency Management told his family the phenomenon was not a tornado but rather a “microburst with a strong down force wind,” Richard Handschke said.

According to Accuweather, a microburst is a column of sinking air that can be just as destructive as a tornado – producing winds exceeding 100 miles per hour – but the difference is it does not rotate in the manner that a tornado does.

Richard Handschke said his mother’s neighbors reported hearing the sound of a train while the wind pummeled the barn. Because the rest of the neighborhood remained undamaged, the neighbors did not notice the Handschke barn was leveled until the next day, he said.

“It’s so ironic. Nobody around us had any damage whatsoever. Just this one farmstead,” Richard Handschke said.

The barn was not used for farming in 20 years, but he said it was in good shape. Its destruction surprised the family.

“It just, like, took my breath away,” Richard Handschke’s sister Barb Bressler said. “It just was shocking. It’s our heritage because it’s been in our family since the 1800s.

“We are all sad that we lost this piece of our heritage,” Bressler said. “But we are very lucky that nobody was hurt and that the house is still in good shape.”

Bressler said her nephew’s boat, ATV and hunting equipment stored in the upper barn sustained little damage despite the structure’s destruction.

The Handschke property, formerly a dairy farm, is no stranger to storm damage. During a 1958 storm, the farmhouse burned down when the eavestrough fell into the electrical wires, igniting an attic fire. A less severe storm knocked down at least three trees and damaged the roof of the house in the early 1990s.

Some damage throughout area
A little ways down the road in the town of Lebanon, at the intersection of Spurr Road and the U.S. Highway 45 business route, the storm blew a billboard over.

In city of New London, the New London Police Department received the following reports according to its incident list:
• A tree branch on a power line at 328 Evergreen St.

• A tree partially blocking the roadway at 508 E. Quincy St.

• A downed tree near the intersection of Dexter Street and Beckert Road.

• A tree fell onto the roof of the New London Historical Society’s Simmons building at Memorial Park. The building appeared to not be damaged.

• A downed tree near the intersection of East Cook Street and South Algoma Street.

• A downed tree at E9055 County Trunk X.

Hortonville Police Sgt. Brian Bahr said village police did not receive any reports of damage.

Area communities host ceremonies

Memorial Day observances are scheduled on Monday, May 29 in Waupaca, King, Clintonville, New London, Weyauwega, Fremont, Scandinavia, Iola, Manawa and Ogdensburg.

Following are the schedules for each community:

Waupaca
For Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1037 and its Auxiliary, Memorial Day weekend will start with the placing of flags on veterans’ graves at 4 p.m. Friday, May 26, at Lakeside Cemetery in Waupaca.

The VFW Post 1037 Memorial Day program will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, May 29, at Rotary Riverview Park, behind Main Street.

The Auxiliary will conduct a waterfront service first, followed by the VFW program.

Music will be provided by the Waupaca High School Band, under the direction of Mark Kryshak.

Post Commander Wayne Eisentraut will be the keynote speaker.

Bailey Seefeldt will read the Gettysburg Address and Sean McKibben will read Logan’s Orders.

Those who are able to walk are asked to park on North Main Street and use the ramp to get to the bandstand.

In case of rain, the program will be held in the Waupaca High School Performing Arts Center.

King
Memorial Day will be commemorated on Monday, May 29, at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King.

At 9:30 a.m. the Wisconsin National Woman’s Relief Corps, Daughters of Union Veterans, American Legion Auxiliary, Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, Ladies Auxiliary – Military Order of the Purple Heart and AMVETS Auxiliary will lead a lakeside ceremony.

Participants will assemble in front of the Marden Memorial Center for a processional to the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery where further ceremonies will take place at 10:30 a.m.

State Rep. Kevin Petersen is the featured speaker and Michael Telzrow, director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, is the guest speaker.

Members of the Masonic Service Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, American Legion Auxiliary, AMVETS, AMVETS Auxiliary and Disabled American Veterans will place wreaths.

Badger Girl Jocybeth Barraza will lead the pledge of allegiance, Badger Boy Alex Ronaldson will read “Gen. Logan’s Memorial Day Order,” and Badger Girl Kathy Zamarripa will share “A Tribute to Veterans.”

The Waupaca Middle School band will perform at both ceremonies.

The Wisconsin Veterans Home Honor Guard will post and retire colors and fire volleys.

WMS student Tyler Rogney will sound “Taps.”

Clintonville
The first Memorial Day observance will be held in Clintonville starting with a wreath laying ceremony at Memorial Circle Bridge at 9 a.m. Monday, May 29.

The group will proceed to Graceland Cemetery at 9:10 a.m. for the Memorial Day Observance Ceremony, which is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.

City of Clintonville Mayor Lois Bressette will be the Master of Ceremonies. Dan Rindt, commander of American Legion Post 63 will be the Officer of the Day. Sgt. Jesse Cuff of the U.S. Army Reserves will be the keynote speaker for the event.

At 11:10 a.m., the group will head to Riverside Cemetery for the same ceremony in Embarrass.

Observances are scheduled to be completed at noon with a national moment of silence at 3 p.m.

New London
Local veterans’ organizations will hold Memorial Day observance at the Veterans Memorial site at 9:15 a.m. Monday, May 29.

Weyauwega
The Weyauwega Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 29.

It will start at 8:30 a.m. at the veterans’ clubhouse on Mill Street.

The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, along with the Boy and Girl scouts, Weyauwega Fire Department and the Weyauwega-Fremont High School Band, will march to Oakwood Cemetery for the memorial service.

Others interested in being part of the parade are welcome to join it.

The Memorial Day program at the cemetery will feature Judge Vicki Clussman, of Waupaca County Circuit Court, Branch 2.

Music will be provided by the W-F High School Band and Danny Darren Duets.

If it rains, Weyauwega’s Memorial Day program will be held at 8:45 a.m., at W-F Middle School, which is located on Ann Street.

Fremont
Memorial Day observances will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, in Fremont.

Parade units will assemble at 9:30 a.m. in the Fremont-Wolf River American Legion parking lot behind village hall.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and proceed down Fillmore Street to Wolf River Drive to West Main Street before ending on Waupaca Street in front of the Legion hall.

The parade will include the American Legion Post 391 Color Guard and flag bearers representing the American Legion Auxiliary; the Weyauwega-Fremont High School Band, under the direction of Andrew Schmidt; village police; the Fremont-Wolf River Fire Department; Fremont-Wolf River Ambulance Services; Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts; 4-H club members; and several antique cars.

Anyone who wants to be part of the parade should assemble at the Legion Hall parking lot prior to the parade.

Services will be held, following the parade, at Lakeside Cemetery, along Wolf River Drive.

Legion Post 391 will supervise the cemetery services. The guest speaker will be Jim Jolly, a World War II veteran from the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King.

Students from Fremont Elementary School will read patriotic poems while Scouts place flowers at the graves of veterans.

Post 391 will then fire rifles into the air in tribute to America’s fallen soldiers. The ceremony will conclude with the sounding of “Taps.”

A potluck lunch at the Legion clubhouse will follow the ceremony. Those who wish to participate are asked to bring a dish to pass. Grilled sandwiches will be provided.

Iola-Scandinavia
The Iola Historical Society, in conjunction with the Sheveland-Taylor American Legion Post 14, will host a Memorial Day Pork Roast Dinner following the Iola Memorial Day Parade Monday, May 29.

The parade starts at 11 a,m. from the Iola-Scandinavia High School parking lot and proceeds to Veterans Park on North Main Street.

Following a Memorial Day service, the parade will proceed from the park tot the Iola Historical Society’s historic village on Depot Street. Dinner will be held at the society’s Machine Shed at 222 Depot Street.

The pork roast starts at noon and runs until 2 p.m. All veterans are offered a free dinner in honor of their service. Local Legion members will be noting the branch and years of service for each veteran attending.

The donation for dinner for spouses and the general public is $10, $5 for children 12 and under. The dinner includes all the trimmings. Sodas and bottled water will also be available for purchase from Iola’s Boy Scout Troop 631.

The Machine Shed is one of seven buildings at the Iola Historical Society’s historic village that will be open for touring during the event.

The others are the original Iola & Northern Railway depot; the original Helvetia Town Hall; a replica one-room schoolhouse; a vintage 1930s-era log hunting cabin; a replica fire station containing some of Iola’s early original firefighting vehicles; and the main museum/office. A vintage caboose is also on the grounds, but that is currently being restored and is not available for tours.

The museum includes a display featuring Iola World War II veteran Lee Nelson, who flew 31 bombing missions in a B-17 “Flying Fortress” over Germany and German-occupied France.

Docents will be on hand to answer any questions.

Manawa
A Memorial Day lunch will be held at noon at the Symco (Union) Town Hall, E6592 State Highway 22, outside Symco.

Ogdensburg
Memorial Day services will take place at 10 a.m. at the St Lawrence Baseball Park in Ogdenburg, then head to Park Cemetery, followed by a small luncheon at First Lutheran Church.

Felony charges followed a traffic stop in New London.

Tiffany M. Knueppel, 33, Waupaca, and Harley D. Beckerson, 26, Menasha, are charged with possession of methamphetamine, identity theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Knueppel is also charged with misdemeanor bail jumping and Beckerson is charged with felony bail jumping.

On May 16, New London Police Officer Ryan Denu pulled over a tan Buick with Michigan license plates that did not belong to the vehicle.

According to the criminal complaint, the man and woman who were in the vehicle said they did not have ID.

Denu suspected they were not who they said they were and identified them from booking photos as Knueppel and Beckerson.

A search of the vehicle uncovered two digital scales, several syringes, a glass jar with marijuana, a pipe with burnt marijuana residue and a gem bag with a clear brown substance that tested positive for meth, the complaint says.

Outagamie County had issued a bench warrant for Beckerson’s arrest because he failed to make a court appearance in April on charges of credit card fraud and felony bail jumping.

Beckerson also faced charges of identity theft and felony bail jumping in Calumet County where he had been released from custody in February on a $5,000 signature bond.

Knueppel was on extended supervision at the time of her May 16 arrest in Waupaca County.

She was convicted of possession of methamphetamine, possession of narcotics, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana in January 2015 and sentenced to one year and four months in prison with four years of extended supervision.

Application deadline June 12

The Waupaca Area Community Foundation (WACF) is accepting grant requests until June 12 from eligible charitable organizations serving people of Waupaca County.

During this annual competitive process, the WACF’s board members review applications for grants from the Waupaca Area Community Foundation Fund.

The fund supports projects or programs for which a moderate amount of grant money can make a significant impact on an area of need.

Grant requests up to $7,500 can support a broad range of causes in the areas of arts, health, human services, community development, education and environment.

Organizations eligible to receive grants are those determined by the IRS to be public charities.

Applications are being accepted online until 4 p.m. Monday, June 12.

A list of last year’s nine grant recipients, complete guidelines and the online form can be accessed from the WACF’s website at www.cffoxvalley.org/waupaca.

Applicants must first register and be approved to use the online application tool prior to starting to fill out an application form.

Sectionals set for May 25

By Greg Seubert

The track season is alive and well for several area high school athletes.

Individuals and relay teams needed to place in the top four at their respective WIAA regional meet May 22. Qualifiers will now advance to the sectional round, scheduled for Thursday, May 25.

Qualifiers from Waupaca, Weyauwega-Fremont and Amherst will head to a Division 2 meet in Freedom; qualifiers from Iola-Scandinavia, Manawa, Wild Rose, Almond-Bancroft and Marion will compete at a Division 3 sectional in Rosholt; and New London and Hortonville qualifiers will travel to Ashwaubenon for a Division 1 meet.

Here’s a rundown of area qualifiers:

Division 3
Tri-County Regional

Iola-Scandinavia’s qualifiers for the Rosholt Sectional include Leighten Fischer, first, girls’ long jump (17 feet, 1 1/2 inches) and first, 300-meter hurdles (46.14); Erika Kisting, first, girls’ 1,600-meter run (5:22.89) and first, 3,200-meter run (11:49.81); Fischer, second, 100-meter dash; Jada Beacom, third, girls’ 1,600; boys’ 800-meter relay (Cam Boris, Garett Brown, Noah Olson, Scott Van Gunten), third; girls’ 400-meter relay (MacKenzie Frye, Makenna Brown, Payton Wester, Haley Ullom), third; boys’ 400 relay (Olson, Boris, Van Gunten, Brown), third; girls’ 1,600-meter relay (Brown, Beacom, Kisting, Fischer), third; Joe Makovec, fourth, boys’ 1,600; and girls’ 3,200-meter relay (Lexi Glad, Magan Ellioff, Natalie Rustad, Brynn Rasmussen), fourth.

Wild Rose also qualified several individuals and relays teams. First-place finishers include Ashley Caswell, girls’ 100- and 200-meter dash (12.94, 26.93); Jeremiah Churchville, boys’ shot put (45 feet, 8 inches); Brianna Lund, girls’ high jump (4 feet, 11 inches); David Lauritzen, boys’ triple jump (41 feet, 6 3/4 inches); Mike Fitzgerald, boys’ 110-meter hurdles (16.96); girls’ 800 relay (Caswell, Maya Dix, Olivia Jenkinson, Olivia Bennot) (1:47.86); boys’ 800 relay (Paul Hernandez, Lauritzen, Tommy Friday, Nolan Jenkinson) (1:32.34); and girls’ 400 relay (Addy Lauritzen, Jenkinson, Bennot, Dix) (51.38). The Wildcats won the boys’ and girls’ titles at the meet.

<

>

Magan Ellioff hands the baton to Iola-Scandinavia teammate Lexi Glad in the girls' 3,200-meter relay race at the Tri-County Regional in Plainfield. The team, which also included Natalie Rustad and Brynn Rasmussen, finished fourth in 11:45.34 and have advanced to the Rosholt Sectional. Holly Neumann Photo

St. Mary Catholic Regional
Manawa and Marion competed at Xavier High School.

Manawa’s qualifiers for the Rosholt Sectional are Laynie Bessette, first, girls’ 200 (27.88), second, triple jump, third, long jump; Sami Struzynski, first, girls’ discus (109 feet, 11 inches); boys’ 800 relay (Zach Kreklow, Brett Zielke, Ethan Hass, Bo Koehn), first (1:35.9); Kassidee Zander, second, girls’ shot put; Hass, second, boys’ triple jump; boys’ 1,600 relay (Koehn, Kreklow, Zielke, Hass), second; Jody Wentworth, third, girls’ 100 and 300 hurdles; boys’ 3,200 relay (Evan Lowney, Devin Loughrin, Sebastian Wagner, Breyden Mikkelson), third; boys’ 400 relay (Caleb Griesbach, Ethan Michalowski, Wyatt Nichols, Zach Teuscher), third; Zielke, fourth, boys’ triple jump; Riley Murphy, fourth, boys’ 300 hurdles; Brady Buch, fourth, boys’ high jump; and girls’ 800 relay (Anya Wilson, Charley Gehrke, MaCayla Timm, Sierra Lubahn), fourth.

Marion also qualified individuals in four events as well as three relay teams.

Division 2
Wautoma Regional
Waupaca, Weyauwega-Fremont and Amherst competed at Wautoma High School.

Waupaca’s qualifiers include Zoe Harrison, second, girls’ 200 and fourth, 100; Avrey Simonson, second, girls’ triple jump and third, 200; Brandon Anderson, second, boys’ triple jump and fourth, 100; Ryan Phillipsen, third, boys’ 110-meter hurdles and fourth, triple jump; Brad Moloney, second, boys’ pole vault; Britney Bertzyk, third, girls’ pole vault; Blake Orr, third, boys’ shot put and fourth, discus; Derrick Rotta, third, boys’ discus; Mark Kilcoyne, fourth, boys’ shot put; Caleb Studzinski, fourth, boys’ 400-meter dash; and boys’ 3,200 relay (Hunter Smith, Studzinski, Colby Nimmer, Forrest Ziebell), fourth.

Weyauwega-Fremont’s Becky Schroeder won the girls’ high jump event with a top height of 5 feet, 2 inches. Other qualifiers for the Indians are Gwynette Koch, second, girls’ discus; and Lupe Hernandez, fourth, boys’ long jump.

Amherst’s qualifiers include Josh Cisewski, who won the boys’ 200 (23.42) and long jump (20 feet, 9 3/4 inches).

Clintonville Regional
Clintonville’s first-place finishers are Allysin Booth, girls’ 100 hurdles (16.29); Tyler Finger, boys’ 1,600 (4:40.72); and Kara Pyatskowit, girls’ 1,600 (5:27.18).

Division 1
Kimberly Regional
New London and Hortonville headed to Kimberly High School.

Hortonville’s Hannah Lohrenz won the girls’ 1,600 in 5:28.93 and joined Claire Van Beek, Alyssa Rafuse and Steph Jarvis on the winning 3,200 relay team (9:45.02).

Council approves more contracts

By Angie Landsverk

The city of Waupaca plans to fund the reconstruction of Main Street through a variety of sources, including grants and borrows.

The common council has not yet approved a funding level for the project.

City staff are recommending funding of $4.8 million, while designing the project for $5.3 million.

RDG Planning & Design, the consultant for the project, provided the city with potential funding levels of $4.3 million, $4.8 million and $5.3 million when the draft plan was unveiled on April 24.

The reconstruction of Main Street, from Badger to Water streets is scheduled to begin in 2021.

The infrastructure under the street is more than 100 years old.

“We provided the draft downtown plan to the Steering Committee for comments and review. We intend to bring the plan to the Plan Commission and council in the June/July time period for adoption of the plan,” said Brennan Kane, the city’s director of community and economic development.

The reconstruction project will include new utilities under the street, including sewer, water and stormwater, he said.

The water laterals into the individual buildings on Main Street will also be replaced, Kane said.

Concrete is currently being proposed for the street itself.

The project will also include new curb and gutter, decorative concrete sidewalks, new street lights, benches and landscaping.

“The $4.8 million includes all of that, We hope that there’s support from the community to fundraise for some of the additional dollars for some of the additional architectural features,” Kane said.

Those features include signage and public art.

The sidewalks will be replaced at their existing widths, except in certain areas, he said.

Those exceptions include the block in front of the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce, where parallel parking is proposed, as well as the area on North Main, where the ramp leads to Rotary Riverview Park.

There is currently no parking there, and the plan is to make the sidewalk wider there.

He said the other area where a wider sidewalk is proposed is at North Main and Granite streets.

“Further investigation will be taken in Phase II,” Kane said. “That area by Danes Hall, as well as Rotary Riverview Park, will be investigated more in Phase II of the Main Street plan.”

Click to enlarge

Funding
“Main Street will be a state-run project,” said Kathryn Kasza, the city’s finance director/treasurer.

The city already qualified for $1.7 million in federal funding for the project.

That funding is through the Surface Transportation Urban Program (STP), which the DOT manages.

“The $1.7 million is for construction specifically, and then there is approximately $200,000 built into that for construction oversight, so that number is actually about $1.9 million,” Kane said.

In addition, the city will apply for $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, he said.

The $1.9 million and $500,000 the city hopes to receive totals $2.4 million.
The cost to put in new utilities is $900,000.

The city plans to fund that through the utilities by seeking Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water loan funds.

That would be funded over 20 years and is not expected to impact utility rates.

“That leaves $1.5 million that the city will have to borrow for the rest of the project,” Kasza said. “It’ll be General Obligation debt supported by the tax levy. Right now. we’re planning for 10 to 15-year note.”

In 2018, the city will pay off its recreation center debt. That will free up about $500,000 in the debt service levy, she said.

“Because of the city prepaying the Hendrickson Center debt and some of the other outstanding issues and not borrowing as much as we are paying off, we’re able to fund this project so that the impact on the tax levy is zero or minimal,” Kasza said. “Based on a $100,000 home in 2018, right now, we’re anticipating that there we be no increase in the debt service tax levy for 2018.”

Engineering portions of the project will be beginning.

“In 2019 and 2020, it’s the same thing – based on this year’s numbers, we would have not an additional increase in the tax levy,” she said.

In 2016, the city’s outstanding debt was $11.3 million.

“By the time we get to this project in 2021 – even with issuing the new debt for capital projects and the Main Street project – the city will be at $8.5 million,” Kasza said.

In addition to the rec center debt, the other main project the city has outstanding debt for is the police department project.

“By refinancing the Hendrickson Center and moving up paying it off, we ended up shortening it up two years,” Kasza said.

Kane said the Main Street project will not take away from any of the city’s other capital needs, and the city’s debt will decrease.

He also said the $4.8 million number for the project is a 2021 number.

Inflation was factored in to make it in line with what the cost will be that year.

“One of the challenges was to be able to do this large of a project and still be able to maintain other capital projects on an annual basis,” Kasza said. “We’re fitting in this project without causing financial stress.”

Latest contracts
When the common council met on May 16, it approved four contracts related to the reconstruction of Main Street and the redevelopment of the downtown district.

The contracts totaled $777,500.

The council unanimously approved three of the contracts.

In the other case, one council member abstained, resulting in an 8-1-0 vote.

Lori Chesnut abstained from voting on the contract related to the Phase II design and engineering for the reconstruction of Main Street.

The council awarded that contract to SEH Engineering Services and RDG Planning & Design at a cost not to exceed $543,730.

“The $4.8 million includes the Phase II design and engineering,” Kane said.

He said Phase II will bring the engineering plans from 30 percent to 100 percent complete and allow for bids to be sought.
Chesnut asked if the council should wait to hear from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding the design exceptions the city requested for parking.

She said she abstained for that reason, as well as because she believes there needs to be better communication between the city and partners in the project.

Kane told the council the city received positive feedback from the DOT regarding the design exceptions it is seeking for parking.

The DOT favors parallel parking, and the city sought an exception to maintain as much angle parking on Main Street as possible.

“We’re hopeful on that right now,” Kane said.

The other contracts the council approved were $101,750 with SEH Engineering Services and RDG Planning & Design for City Hall parking improvements; $75,020 with RDG for a Rotary Riverview Park and master plan update; and $57,000 with SEH for grant administration/funding assistance.

During last June’s design studio, the city received comments related to the loss of parking with the Main Street plan.
A number of parking options were considered before the decision was made to maintain the majority of angle parking with some parallel parking.

The city also decided to look at how it could add parking downtown.

The City Hall parking redesign will include the parking lot, as well as looking at Fulton, Jefferson and Union streets around it.

“We anticipate to complete the drawings by the end of the year with anticipated construction in 2018,” Kane said. “We’re estimating between 30 and 40 new stalls are being provided.”

The estimated cost of design and construction is $630,000.

Kasza said the cost would be part of the city’s borrow for capital projects.

The additional parking stalls would then be in place prior to Main Street being reconstructed in 2021.

The $75,020 cost to update the Rotary Riverview Park will also be part of the city’s 2017 capital borrow.

Kane said the idea is to reorient the city back to Waupaca River.

The river is an asset to the downtown, and throughout the process, there have also been discussions about making enhancements to the backs of the buildings, he said.

The present master plan for the park is more than 10 years old.

This planning update will include not only the park, but the area around Danes Hall, Rasmussen Park, the city’s garage on Water Street and the idea of a new pedestrian bridge.

The city will use contingency funds to cover the $57,000 cost for grant funding assistance.

Kane said the city will also look at potential grant programs to help the downtown businesses get through the time when Main Street is reconstructed.

Public works director questions practice

By Bert Lehman

For years, the city of Clintonville has been maintaining an alleyway area east of Main Street between Seventh Avenue and Fifth Avenue that is partially private property.

The Clintonville Street Committee was informed about the situation at its May 2 meeting.

Clintonville Public Works Director Kray Brown told the committee that the area is not a dedicated alleyway, but it is being used by many in the community as an alleyway. He said by maintaining the area, the city is maintaining private property as well as property of the church in the area.

“I’ve been under the assumption for years myself that we don’t do anything on personal property unless I’m given the go ahead from our board members to do so,” Brown told the committee. “Because it’s not a dedicated alleyway there is risk – accidents – whatever, both to the property owner and also potentially to the city.”

Brown asked the committee if the city should continue to maintain the area. If the city decided to stop maintaining the area, he said the city needs to figure out how the area will be maintained. This could include easements, purchasing of property, or property owners giving the property to the city.

The city has put in “a lot of money” to maintain the pavement in the area, Brown said.

He added, “We’re maintaining property that isn’t ours, putting money into something that (the city doesn’t own). I need that money for other roads.”

Committee member Steve Kettenhoven asked if a fee structure could be assembled and then the city charge the property owners for maintaining the area.

Brown said typically a municipality can’t do work on private property unless a city ordinance allows it. He cited examples of sidewalk work and cutting grass for health and safety reasons.

Brown stated that he’d prefer not to maintain the area until the city council provides direction on how to handle the situation.

Committee member Lance Bagstad told the committee that it was his opinion that if the city didn’t already have an ordinance to allow the city to do maintenance on private property in the alley area, the issues should be directed to the city’s safety and ordinance committee to create an ordinance.

“In my opinion, if you want this to be an alley we need to dedicate that as a right of way and continue our property through this,” Brown said. “Then it’s going to be up to the adjacent property owners if they are going to agree to it or not.”

Clintonville City Administrator Chuck Kell told the committee that there are probably other areas in the city where the city is maintaining private property.

“I don’t know if we can make a decision on any of these until we know what else we’re looking at around the community,” Kell said.

Bagstad asked Brown if the businesses in the area are aware that they own part of the alley area.

Committee Chairman Jim Supanich said people he has talked to have no idea where the property lines are.

“Because we’ve been maintaining it so long, everybody thinks it’s us,” Brown said. “People who have lived here for some amount of years understand that we have maintained this for so long.”

The street committee approved a motion to recommend the safety and ordinance committee review the situation and develop an ordinance that covers city workers working on private property.

After the vote, Kell said he thinks the city attorney will have to be involved in developing an ordinance.

At the May 9 Clintonville City Council meeting, the council was updated on the situation.

Large crowd expected Veterans Day

By John Faucher

A group of onlookers gathered on site at the New London Veterans Memorial site Friday May 19, as workers installed several large granite walls containing the names of more than 650 area veterans.

Jim Jaeger, secretary for the New London Veterans Memorial Foundation, said there is room for an additional 500 names on the wall.

He said foundation members would continue fundraising efforts and selling spaces on the wall until its completion later this year. Jaeger said they are planning to add the second group of names by the end of October.

A dedication ceremony is tentatively planned for Aug. 26.

Jaeger said about $200,000 of the $250,000 goal has been raised for the memorial since fundraising efforts began in early 2015.

Initially foundation members anticipated the project would take four to five years to complete.

“The community has been very supportive. Really, it is an exciting time here. I think the whole community can be proud,” said Jaeger.

Greg Mathewson from Mathewson Monuments worked on installing the granite podium on Tuesday, May 23, while crews from Sager Services Landscaping put the final touches on brick pavers around the walls.

Local veterans’ organizations will be holding New London’s Memorial Day observance at the Veterans Memorial site on Monday, May 29 at 9:15 a.m.

“We’re expecting a pretty big crowd for it,” said Jaeger. “Quite a few folks with service members listed on the wall will be there.”

The New London Veterans Memorial project began in October 2014, when a group of local veterans approached the city of New London requesting permission to raise funds and build a memorial.

After researching several possible locations, the group selected Taft Park on the north side of the Wolf River in downtown New London.

The wall will serve as a permanent memorial for all veterans who served in the armed forces, during both times of peace and war.

Upcoming fundraisers
The New London Veterans Memorial Foundation has two weeks remaining until its drawing for a $2,500 vacation giveaway. Tickets are available at Festival Foods and the New London Area Chamber of Commerce office for $5 each or three for $10.

Hilby’s Restaurant and Sports Bar will also hold a benefit golf outing this summer for the Veterans Memorial.

Keith G. Haskins, age 65 of the Township of Belle Plaine, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday afternoon, May 23, 2017 at his home.

Keith Gregory Haskins was born March 7, 1952 in Green Bay, to the late Delbert and Agnes “Peggy” (DeBoth) Haskins. He grew up and continued to live around the Cloverleaf Lakes his entire life. Keith was united in marriage to Janet Wanta on February 25, 1984 at St. Rose Catholic Church, Clintonville. He was employed by Walker Forge Inc., Clintonville where he worked as a quality control supervisor until his retirement in May 2016 after 32 years. Keith was a motorcycle enthusiast in every sense of the word. He owned many bikes in his lifetime, most notably, a touring BMW on which he put over 200,000 miles traveling the entirety of the lower 48 states. His current bike was a treasured Honda Goldwing. He also loved to watch motorcycle road racing at its highest level; cheering on his favorite riders, Valentino Rossi and the late Nicky Hayden in MotoGP, World Superbike, and the new MotoAmerica Championship. This year was the first year that he was able to ride on his birthday as he wasn’t working, and it wasn’t raining. Keith was a loyal member of the Badger Motorcyclists of Wisconsin, and along with Janet, loved to join the group for rides and get-togethers. If there was a close second to motorcycles, his love of music, especially The Beatles, was something near and dear to his heart. He also enjoyed his evening pontoon cruise, which was always complete with “tiddlys.” Keith was a man with a passion for the things he loved, and had a knack for turning strangers into good friends.

He is survived by his loving wife Janet; sister, Karen Zahn; brother, Lee (Sherri) Haskins; his other brothers and sisters: Amy (Bob) Steenbock, Dan (Sandy) Wanta, Nancy J. Wanta, Tim (Sandy) Wanta, Judy Christianson, Karen (Jeff) Sannes and Linda (Don) Thompson; God-children, Andy Haskins and Maggie May Lee and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and friends.

Funeral services will be held 3 p.m., Friday, May 26, 2017 at the Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, Clintonville with the Fr. Larry Canavera officiating. Interment will follow at St. Rose Cemetery, Clintonville. Friends may call on Friday at the funeral home from 12 p.m. until the time of services. An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.

Abandoned outside New London

By Scott Bellile

The Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a sparkler bomb that was left in a ditch in the town of Mukwa on Monday, May 22.

The sparkler bomb, which ultimately did not explode, could have seriously injured a passerby or started a grass fire, New London Fire Capt. Bernie Ritchie said.

Sparkler bombs are bundles of sparkler fireworks that people tape together before lighting.

New London police officer Ben Schmidt discovered the abandoned sparkler bomb just before 8 p.m. Monday while driving down Klatt Road west of New London High School. A report from the sheriff’s office described the sight as looking like “dynamite wrapped in electrical tape.”

Ritchie said the sparklers were 6 to 8 inches long and wrapped in a bundle about the diameter of a quarter.

Schmidt requested New London Fire Department to the scene. By the time firefighters arrived, the sparkler bomb had tapered out and did not need to be extinguished, Ritchie said.

Don Conat, captain for New London Fire Department and detective for Waupaca County, said Wednesday, May 24, investigators do not have any suspects yet.

“Anyone with info as to who made the explosive device should contact the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department at 715-258-4466 or can remain anonymous by contacting Waupaca County Crime Stoppers by texting your tip to 274637 or going to [the] website Waupacacountycrimestoppers.org,” Conat said.

Throughout the country, serious injuries have resulted from sparkler bombs in recent years including:

• A 15-year-old Texas boy lost his lower leg from a bomb of about 180 sparklers in 2016
• A 14-year-old boy in Indiana lost a hand in 2016
• A 12-year-old Washington boy suffered burns to 25 percent of his body after a sparkler bomb exploded in his face in 2015
• In 2014, an Ohio man received a laceration to his ankle that nearly detached it after he combined two packs of sparklers, put them in the refrigerator and lit them
• In 2012, a 19-year-old man in Louisiana blew off his hand and two fingers, suffered severe burns to his arms and legs and blew out the windows of three nearby vehicles after he lit a 144-sparkler bomb

Ritchie offered his own piece of sparkler bomb safety advice: “Don’t play with them, period.”

<

>

Waupaca Lakemen courtesy runner Cody Weller slides safely into third base May 21 during the team's 12-0 win over Omro at Lakemen Field. Greg Seubert Photo

Seidl keeps River Rats off bases

The Waupaca Lakemen came out swinging against Omro.

A six-run first inning helped the Lakemen improve to 3-0 in BABA South-Central Division play May 21 as Waupaca went on to hand the River Rats a 12-0 defeat in the home opener at Lakemen Field.

Luke Behm put the home team on the board with a three-run home run, while teammate Sean Peskie added a two-run homer later in the first.

While the Lakemen offense was putting runs on the scoreboard, starting pitcher Cam Seidl finished with five innings of shutout ball after giving up a leadoff single to Cody Behm in the first.

Omro’s second batter in the second inning grounded out and the third was hit by a pitch, but Seidl retired all other batters with a strikeout, including 10 in a row at one point.

Although the Lakemen scored 12 runs, they also stranded 15 runners over eight innings.

Waupaca scored its six inning on the first on eight hits. Wes Austin led off with a bouncer off of third base for a single and Nate Nelson followed with a bloop single just inside the left-field foul line.

Behm then cleared the bases with his home run, but the Lakemen weren’t finished. Walker Smith followed with a single and Peskie equaled the depth of Behm’s homer with a two-out, two-run shot of his own.

Travis Holat and Josh Peterson singled before Austin’s second hit of the inning plated the sixth run. Nelson lined out to the second baseman or the damage would have been worse.

The Lakemen added an unearned run in the third. Holat reached on an error and scored on Nelson’s single.

Peskie lined a double off of the fence in the fourth and scored on Peterson’s double.

Waupaca capped the scoring with four more runs in the seventh. Ben Selsing reached by being nicked with a pitch and scored on an error, walk and wild pitch, Holat added an RBI single and Tyler Dayton closed out the scoring with a two-run double to the right field corner.

The game could have ended with the 10-run lead after seven innings, but both teams have to agree and Omro wanted to keep playing.

Behm followed Seidl on the hill and gave up only one hit in two innings. Andy Wanty then pitched the final two frames, giving up a hit in each inning and striking out three batters.

Ethan Dayton and Holat had three of Waupaca’s 19 hits, while Austin, Nelson, Smith, Peskie and Peterson had two each. Two batters reached after being hit by a pitch and six others walked. Omro had four hits and struck out 16 times.

Lakemen chatter
• The South-Central has a built-in bye on Memorial Day weekend. The Lakemen will begin their nonleague night game schedule Wednesday, May 31, in Appleton for a matchup with the Legends. Waupaca will return to the Fox Cities Friday, June 2, at Menasha to face the Macs. The Lakemen will resume division play at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 4, at Scandinavia.

• Lakemen player Tom “Bomber” Wanty is going through hip replacement surgery this week. If all goes well, he hopes to be back in the dugout in a month to six weeks.